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The Friendly Games (10 August)

Birmingham did a great job hosting the 22nd Commonwealth Games! That is not just the sentiments of this proud Brummie writing this thought for the week but that of many around the world.

Yet, the feel of the very first Commonwealth Games in 1930 (then known as British Empire Games) and the 2022 games we celebrate today must seem like night and day.

In the first Games participants from the many different nations had few independent rights as British subjects, and there was no place for people with disabilities, and only a place for women in the aquatic events.

In contrast, the 2022 Games in Birmingham were fully integrated, with space for people with a range of abilities and disabilities. Participants in 2022 came to the Games from the many countries that gained independent rights from Britain decades ago (e.g. Jamaica celebrated its 60th anniversary of independence during the Games), and for the first time, in the 2022 Games, there were more events for women than for men.

As I reflected on that contrast between the first Games and the 2022 Games, Christ’s distinction between servant and friend in John 15:15 came to mind:

‘I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father (NRSV).’

I may have made this connection in my mind in part because the Commonwealth Games is known as ‘The Friendly Games.’ A motto that appears to have its roots in the Games being founded on the principles of promoting competing to inspire one another, and get to know each other, as opposed to competing simply to win.

I may also have made the connection because the shift in the feel and nature of the Commonwealth Games appears to correlate with a shift away from British Empire and subjects. A shift that appears to have enabled more of the vision of friendship that the Games was originally stated as established to help foster.

Christ’s words in John 15:15 remind us of the importance and power of a focus on friendship with him and with one another.

May the story of transformation of the Commonwealth ‘Friendly’ Games remind us of and equip us for our calling as part of a global Church, to tell of the friend we can all know and love that is Jesus Christ, who transforms lives like no other.

Gale Richards, EBA Regional Minister

Photo by Korng Sok on Unsplash